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Events Leading to Limited Monarchy
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James I becomes king
After Queen ELizabeth died, James I of Scotsland became the king. Although Elizabeth had been careful with money, her reign left James with a huge debt -- a debt equal to one years worth of royal revenue. James struggling to pay it off gave parliament a reason to seek for change. Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_King_James_I_%26_VI.jpg
http://www.philipmould.com/zoom.php?sid=2454&p=sa -
Petition of Right
At the parliament of 1628-1629, parliament the Petition of Right demanded an end to imprisonment without cause shown, taxation without the consent of parliament, martial law in peacetime, and billeting of troops on civilians. Charles I, son of James I, agreed in order to gain much needed subsidies, but later recanted his word. To many, this threatened parliaments place in the government.
Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petition_of_Right.jpg -
Scots revolt
In 1639, the Scots rose up against England. By 1640, they occupied most of Northern England. Without a way to pay for the war, Charles called a new parliament, which abolished royal courts, declared the writ of habeas corpus, made taxation without parliament's consent illegal, and ruled that parliament had to meet at least once every 3 years.
Image Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muskets.svg -
England split in two
After Charles tried to arrest 5 members of the House of Commons, England began to split into two parts: the royalists and anti-royalists. Both sides amassed armies and civil war was underway. Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Split-arrows.svg -
Antiroyalist victory at Naseby
Oliver Cromwell and the antiroyalist army defeated the royalists at a major batte -- the battle of Naseby. The anitroyalists were close to victory and getting what they wanted -- the surrender of Charles. Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Naseby.jpg -
Execution of Charles I
The antiroyalists defeated and captured Charles; but after learning that he was planning a return to power, they deemed his "untrustworthy" and executed him. This was to the horror of most of England and Europe. Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_I_(Daniel_Mytens).jpg -
Charles II becomes king
To bring an end to calamity, General George Monck marched south and assumed control; he then inivted Charles II, son of Charles I, to the throne. Only the writ of habeas corpus, no taxation without consent from parliament, and the abolition of royal courts remained -- however the balance of power had shifted. The monarchy could no longer deny th gentry and parliament their power -- not if they wanted to stay king.
Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_II_of_England.png
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